Transmission lock



w. M. REASON TRANSMISSION LOCKY Se'px. 13, 1927. 1,641,992

Fiied .Oct'f 26, 1922 aucune# Patented Sept. 13, 1927.

'UNITED STATES 1,641,992 aT'sNr` orFloE.

WALTER M. nnasoiv, or PONTIAC, Mioiiiean, AssiGNon To ELIZABETH BALI-intros,

. or roNTIac, yiviicnieaiv.

TRANSMISSION LOCK.

i Application -led October 26, 1922. Serial No. 597,025.

' This invention relates to transmission locks and the object of the invention 1s to provide a lock for locking the transmission gears on automobiles in the neutral position. Another objectl of the invention is to provide a lock which cannot kbe easily tampered with and which will Vnot' easily get out of order. A further object .of the inventionis to provide a `loclrfor automobile transmissions which cannot be locked-by accident. Another object of the invention is to provide alock for the transmission gears of an'automobile in which the .device can only `be loclied when the gear shift is in the neutral position. The principal object .of the invention is to provide a means for preventing'theft o-f an automobile by locking .the gear shifting mechanism sol that noneof the gears can be brought into driving arrangement-.and also to provide a means'whereby the gear shift lever isloclred and held from movement, the ,Y `locking mechanism being closed in' the transmission .cover which is secured in position in a mannerto prevent removal thereof. yThese objects and the-severalnovel features of the invention are hereinafter more fully described and claimed and the preferred form of construction by which these objects arev attained'is shown in the accompanying drawingsin which#- n Fig. 1 lis a sectiontligrough the transmission cover and lock :embodyingm'y invent-ion. Fig. 2` visa section taken 011 line 2*.;2 .of Figl.- f y f Fig. .3 is afvew ysiileila-r to .Fig-

Showing the' device in the klooked position.

. Fig. Fig. ,3. .Fig Fig. 2. j f Fig. Fig. Fi Figi. i. f f

'As V,will be `understood, from Fig. 1 the `l-is a view taken from 4line .i5-Q5 of a section taken y on line til-6 of i7 isa section taken on line 7 7 of transmission gears .are mounted in the trans-` mission Vcasing 11 beneath the gear shifting 5 z ber .5 is also provided wthfanextending. end-y 5 mechanism shown in F ig. 1...' lA'pair xof rshafts-2 and .3 are slidably mounted. inthe cover y4 for the casing. A member 5 is secured on the shaft 2 by the set screw 6. This member 5 vcarries 'a :yoke 47 for operating the low speed and reverse gears. Themem- .7 having a semi-circularnotch 8 therein and 4 isla sectionta-ken on y1TH@ (-4 of` is also provided with a notch 9 to receive the :lower end `10 of vthe gear shift lever 11. as

will be readily understood from Figs. 1 and 2. f A member 12 similar to the member 5 lisv secured to the shaft-3 by the set screw 13 and .carries a yoke 14 for shifting the intermediate and high speed gears, the member l2 being also provided with a notch 15. for receiving .the end 10 of the gear shift lever and V12 is also provided with an extending endy 16 having a semi-circular notch 17 therein which is positioned opposite the semi-circular notch 8 of the member 5 when the device is in the neutral position. The gear shift lever 11 is provided with a ball shaped portion 18 which fits ina soclietin the upwardly extendingportion of the transmission cover and provides a pivot for the gear shift lever. The cover 4'for the transmission casing is provided with a boss 19 at one side of the gear shift lever' having` anaperture therein in which a sleeve 20 is made a press fit.. Movable longitudinally of the sleeve 20 is a lock barrel 2l having a pin 22 protruding from the side thereof'as shown in Figs. 1'", 2 and 6.v This pin 22 rides in a way 23 provided in the casing 20 and pre- .Vents jrotation of the lock barrel in the sleeve. A shaft 24 is connectedwith the rotatable portionv 25 of the lock as shown inFig. 6 and .a coiled` spring 26 is positioned about the shaft `24 between the bottom of the recess and thel lock barrel. ,This shaft 24 is provided with a notch-127 which tapers indepth from oneside to the other of the shaft 24. The shaft 24 is provided with an end 28of smaller diameter which is ladapted in` the locked position shown in Fig. 3 to extend through the semi-circular notches 8 and 17 provided in the member 5.a`nd 12 and prevent movement of either gear shifting mechanism by the gear shift lever ll. The shoulder between the large portion `of the shaft 24 ands'mall portion 28 thereof is .tapered on one side so as to allow the shaft-'to be moved from the position shown in Fig. 1 to that ico *l lll) in the end thereof the same diameter as the shaft Elland the end ot the cover bolt 3G is slotted at l2 to a Width equal to the diameter oi the end QS ot the shalt Qil. lilith this arrangement when the shaft 2l is in the position shoivn in l by removing the screw 38 the cover bolt l0 may be Withdrawn from the t ausmission cover to allow removal ot the Cover and inspection of the interior ot the transniission. lllhen the device is locked as shown in Fig. 3 the large portion ot the shaft it extends through the aperture in the Cover bolt i0 and holds the cover bolt 30 in position` the shalt 2l being ot greater diameter than the spaee 32 between the ends ot the cover bo t 30. The eover as shown in Fig. 5 provided with a tongue Sel engaging in a notch ot like shape in the upper edge oft the easing l. lllith this arrangement when the deviee is loolred the tongue is held in its notch thus preventing upward movement ot the edge ota the cover in relation to the transmission easing.

In operation a member :la is seeured to the easing l by the screw 3G the member 35 being1 provided with an aperture therein ttor the cover bolt 3l). The tongue. Elfi then inserted in the notch theretor and the opposite edge ot' the cover is positioned over the n1em ber 35. rl., this time the bolt is in its uppermost position and the cover bolt 3() is inserted 'through the aperture in the cover fl. thru the aperture in the member 235 so that the space 32 shown in Fig. l passes over the end 2S ot the looking bolt and allows end QS to entend in the aperture in the end of the cover bolt 30. lllhen this has been done the screw threaded through the easing and engages in a noteh provided therefor in the cover bolt l0 thus holding the cover bolt 30 in position. By moving the gear ahilt lever ill to the neutral position shonu in Fig'. E2, the device may be loehed. This is accomplished by insertnigI the .linger or other instrument through the open end ot the sleeve Q0 and 'toreing the loelr and bolt to the position shown in Fig'. 2i at whieh time the ball Q9 engages in the notch il? and prevents upward movement et the bolt by the spring 2G. iis the portion ot the bolt is of greater diameter than the space E32 between the ends ol the cover bolt 30 the screw can be removed but the cover bolt 30 cannot be Withdrawn at this time and the screw 3G is in an inaccessible posit-ion and cannot be removed to allow removal olf' the cover. To unlock the device the y is inserted in the rotatable portion 25 ot the lool; to which the bolt 2l is secured and by turning the key the bolt is turned which by the peculiar shape ot the arcuate .mutt-h 2T forces the ball 29 back into the ap` re 37 at Which time the spring QG Will foro the lock and boltup to the position shown in Fig. l. The lrey is then turned Les/rinse bach to the position. shown in Fifi". 6 be'lore it can be ivitlidrawn thus turning the notch 2T around to the position shown in full lines in Fig. 3 where, upon downward movement ol the bolt, the ball will again engage in the notch 2T.

il.. feature and object ot vital importance in this device resides in the general strueturo en'iployed to not only lool; the gear operating meehanism in neutral position but :turther in thus locking the gear operating mechanism to loel the eover to the case. litany transmission looks heretofore in use are provided in the eover oil? the transmission case and lock the transmit-.sion oliierating mechanism bat, by removal ot the cover (which merely requires the taking out ot a leiv serews), removes the operating lever and loclr and enables a persoi'ig it bent on theft, to drive the car away as it only requires, alter removal ot the cover, to shiftt the gears by a small har oit any 'type as for instance a. large Screw driver. Thus such loels in reality do not prevent the theft oli' a ear. By my arrangement in which the cover locked to the ease when the gear shitting mechanism is loelied such theft and tampering with the mechanism is prevented.

From the :toreg'ijoing` description it becomes evident that the device is very simple and etlieient in operation, will not easily get out et order, is composed ot iew parts and is olf consequent low mamitactnring cost, and provides a. device which aeeomplishes the objects described.

llavingthus tally deseribinl my invention` its utility and inode ol tmeratiim, what I claim and desire to seeure by Lett-ers Patent et the United States is` l. i1-i transmission loelt including a pair of operating members vlor the transmission, the said members beingi each provided with a notch adapted lobe brought to opposed relation when the said meinbersare inthe neutral. position, a loelt eoinprisingli;` a longitudinally movable non-rotatable portion, a 'rotatable portion therein operable by a key, a `liieltimg; bolt secured to the rotatable portion and having a notch in the side thereo', the bolt and lock being longitodinally movable, the end ot the bolt engaging and iitting the aperture formed by the opposed notches oli the operatingl members upon dowinrard movement thereoil, a spring pressed ball adapted to engage in the notch ol the bolt and hold the same troni longitudinal n1ovement, the notch being.;l so shaped that rota tion ot the .lock by the hey turns the bolt to move the notch out oit engagenient with the sprii'igl pressed ball and permit longitudinal movement, and yieldable means for moving the bolt to the unlocked position.

il. A transmission lool;` including a pair` of operating members ior the `transn'iissi'on, eaeh ot said members being provided With lio a notch adapted to be brought to opposed relation when the operating members are in the neutral position, a lock comprising a nonrotatable portion and a rotatable portion operable by a key, a locking bolt secured to the rotatable portion and having a notchin one side thereof, the bolt and' lockV being longitudinally movable to allowV the bolt to engage in the aperture formed by the opposed notches of the operating members, a spring pressed ball adapted to engage in the notch of the bolt when in the locked position and hold the bolt from longitudinal movement, and means whereby operation ofthe lock by the key rotates the bolt to present a uniform surface to the spring pressed ball permitting longitudinal movement of the bolt, and yieldable means for retracting the bolt.

3. A lock for a,` transmission including a pair of members for operating the transmission, the said members being provided with semi-circular notches adapted to be brought to opposed relation whenthe gears are in neutral position, a lock comprising a nonrotatable portion and a rotatable portion operable by a key, a locking bolt secured tothe rotatable portion, the lock and bolt being movable longitudinally to engage in the apertureformed by the opposed notches of the operating members, spring actuated means engaging the bolt and preventing longitudinal movement thereof when in locking position and rotation of the lock and bolt releasing the spring actuated means and permittting withdrawal of thel bolt.

4. A transmission lock including a pair of members for operating the transmission,

Veach of said membersy being provided with a notch adapted to be brought to opposed relation when the members are in neutral position, a lock comprising a longitudinally movable non-rotatable portion, anda rotatable portion operable b a key, a locking Y bolt secured to the rotata le portion, the bolt being movable longitudinally by longitudinal movement of the lock to engage in the aperture formed by the opposed notches of the operating members, means ,prevent-ing withdrawal of the bolt when inthe locked position, and means whereby rotation of the lock and bolt by the key allows withdrawal of the bolt.

y 5. A transmission lock comprising the combination with the transmission casing and cover therefor having a iange lying parallel with the wall of the casing, of a pairV of rods mounted in the cover, a pair of gear operating members each having a part thereof provided with a notch and the said members being adapted `to be brought to bolt being of lesswidth on one diametrical line and of greaterwidth on a diametrical line at right angles thereto and also being provided with a notch in one of the side faces of the wide portion, a spring pressed ball in the cover bolt engaging the notch when the lock bolt is moved to locking position, the

arrangement providing that rotation of the n Ybolt through an arc of about ninety degrees retracts the ball thereby permitting longitudinal movement of the bolt, the said cover bolt having a slot in the end opening to the aperture therein for the lock bolt, the slot being of a width to permit the cover bolt to be withdrawn when the lock bolt has been turnedto retract the spring pressed ball and to prevent withdrawal of the cover bolt when the lock bolt is turned to position withthe ball in the notch.

6. A transmission lock comprising the combination with a transmission casing and vcover therefor provided with a flange lying parallel with the wall of the casing,of a cover bolt extending through the flange and casing wall to the interior of the casing, rods mounted'in the cover, gear operating members slidable on each rod each having a portion thereof provided with a notch in one face, the two members when moved into neutralV position having their notches in optpose'd relation, a rotatable locking bolt adapted to be rotated and to be moved longitudinally with the end thereof engaging in the aperture formed by the opposed notches when the parts are in neutral position and preventing movement of the gear operating members, the said cover bolt having an aperture through which the locking bolt is moved to lock the gear operating member,

`'means carried by there-over bolt for holding the llock bolt in locking position, and means `whereby rotation of the bolt releases the said 'locking means permitting withdrawal of the lock bolt. f In testimony whereof, I sign this specification. y

' WALTER M. REASON. 

